Posted on 06/14/2006 10:36:59 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
Posted by Mark Finkelstein on June 14, 2006 - 13:04.
As a Jew, I try to tread lightly when it comes to discussing matters Christian. But I think I can say with confidence that if you're a traditional Christian who is not offended by Jim Rigby's column at the Huffington Post, Christians Who Want Democracy Must Stop Bowing to a Dictator, you're not reading carefully.
Rigby is the pastor at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Austin, TX. He has gotten into hot water for conducting ceremonies for homosexual couples. His church has also admitted a professed atheist as a member.
Let's start with this choice bit of blasphemy:
"Jesus was born illegitimately."
Other verbatim excerpts likely to elevate believers' blood pressure:
"Should we be surprised that religious nations that picture Christ as a loving dictator have produced conquistadors, inquisitors and crusaders?"
"Many Christians seek a white male king. He may be called "Pope", he may be called "the decider President," he may be called "televangelist," but the title only masks what he is, a benevolent (or not so benevolent) dictator."
"Today's church lifts its arms to praise Christ wearing liturgical garments woven in sweatshops. So called "Christian America" is still a nation built on the work of slaves. We do not see them because they toil invisibly in other countries. Today's church doles out bits of charity from booty stolen from God's powerless people the world over."
"All of us can begin to plant seeds of a better future for our children's children. For Christians today, that means suffering the consequences of refusing to bow to the dictator Christ of this culture."
"From Popes, Luther and Calvin we have some of the ugliest slurs ever recorded against women, intellectuals, and those who refused the church's message. How did Christians hold slaves, oppress women and slaughter nonbelievers? Perhaps they could not see Christ in non-male, non-European, and non-Christian people because they were limited by their theology. Their "Christ" was merely a glorification of the most powerful member of their own culture."
"To picture God in terms of power is also one of the great bait and switch gimmicks of all time. People within the power hierarchy proclaim that God is the ultimate authority, and then appoint themselves as God's interpreters and enforcers. They are God's humble bullies. It has been one of the most successful con games of all time."
"The real Jesus was an anarchist."
"If you want to know why Americans are so frightened and why we are attacking anything that would challenge our dominance over others, read the Bible. Like Cain we have murdered members of our human family."
Yikes!
HuffPost/NewsBusters Presbyterian pastor ping to Today show list.
tread lightly? this guy is a subtle as a MOAB. What a ripe heaping load of dung
I'm referring to myself, not the author of the Huff Post article which I'm describing here.
Reducing immaculate conception to the level of illegitimacy is a bit of a stretch for me.
It's a matter of faith. Either you have it or you don't.
Well, I'm just glad that after 2000 of misdirection-- and worse--a prophet such as Jim Rigby has come into our midst to straighten things out.
Nunc dimittis.
Jesus was NOT a product of Immaculate conception. Mary was.
Anti-Catholic bigot at Huffington Post badmouths Pope, Catholic nations.
That's interesting. Then where do you think Jesus came from.
http://www.staopen.com/ this is their website
for those in Austin they are located off of wells branch in the pflugerville district
Shoot - who needs faith for this one? Joseph and Mary were married when Jesus was born. Where's the illegitimacy?
How does this (expletive) call himself a Christian?
Would the politcally-correct pastor Rigby ever refer to a contemporary child as having been 'born illegitimately'?
Huh?
According to Christian doctrine Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary. But that has nothing to do with the Immaculate Conception, which is the Catholic doctrine that Mary was conceived without sin.
"The real Jesus was an anarchist."
As in "no gods, no masters"?
I call bovine droppings.
My God can defend Himself, Jim Rigby. I don't need to say a word or lift a finger. He's not one of these idols that can't see or hear or defend himself, but the Creator of the world, the mouth and the ear.
According to Christian doctrine Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary. But that has nothing to do with the Immaculate Conception, which is the Catholic doctrine that Mary was conceived without sin.
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